200 Big Ten wins for Lisa Bluder
- Thread starter mstp1992
- Start date
They lose the best player in the history of Iowa basketball and so far have improved as a team. Wow!
That's an interesting argument to be had, for sure.
They definitely still like to work the ball inside to Czinano and Ollinger, but Meyer and Doyle have definitely raised their game from last season, and Alexis Sevillian has emerged as a solid guard as well.
Last year, they were much more geared towards feeding Megan, so it was a different team essentially, much like the Iowa men are this year in feeding Garza, compared to last year.
The only thing is, the women are much smaller this year, so that could be a problem if they run into a solid team with bigger players in the NCAA tournament.
You are forgetting that Tania Davis was only 5'3, instant improvement size wise on the guard position
Great, great job by Bluder.
Caitlyn Clark on the way will help just a bit.
Caitlyn Clark on the way will help just a bit.
So, the same size as Greg Brunner?You are forgetting that Tania Davis was only 5'3, instant improvement size wise on the guard position
They are a fun and cardiac-straining team to watch and it is very impressive what they are doing, to be sure. Monica has been a very pleasant surprise, and the younguns are playing big parts. Doyle is one of my favorite players from any Iowa team ever, and MM can light up the scoreboard some nights. That being said, your last line is the key. As that Dorka gal showed last night, a team with height and/or athleticism is going to be the end of their run (yes, that's a bit of a Captain Obvious line, but). Enjoying it until they get there.
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anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba
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Doyle made a pass last night that would have made Joe T proud. She was driving across the line around the FT line and fired a no-look bounce pass behind her to a wide open player under the basket for an easy two. It was fabulous. And although Doyle is a perimeter player, she plays the game with the same grit and never-stop motor that drives Garza. The Iowa women's team is much like the men's in that they simply refuse to lose. Another fun team to watch.
I remember that pass and I had the same thought that it resembled a Toussaint pass. This team is fun to watch and is certainly exceeding my expectations after losing a generational player like Gustafson
10 years ago I thought she was close to being on the hotseat. She had terrible luck with injuries for a few years and they were consistently inconsistent. It's very impressive how she's turned things around and really upped her game. I'd argue Iowa is a top 3 program in the Big 10 currently.
She's made a few of those this year. I think she has to be in thediscussion of POY in the B1G at this point at least.
As good a this team is, and last seasons for that matter, they are still a cut below the truly elite women's programs in the country.
Still, congratulations are due to Coach Bluder, her staff and her players.
Still, congratulations are due to Coach Bluder, her staff and her players.
And likely always will be. And that's ok. Such is the extreme stratification of women's college basketball.
Doyle posts up near the basket from time to time, being 5'9 and with muscles. Sam Logic did that quite often in her days at Iowa. Next year Clark is around 5'11 to 6', she should try to do that as well. Though I don't know if that's her style, and I haven't seen her flexing her biceps yet
Yeah congrats to LB. I have not been a fan of hers in the past because her teams were bad in fundamental aspects of the game (passing and ball handling). They have improved in those areas and are now competing at a higher level. The program appears to be headed in the right direction. Fun to watch although frustrating at times with sloppy play.
Their achilles heel this year is complete lack of a backup center. When Czinano gets in foul trouble, as she often does, they have to go with two power forwards in Ollinger and Warnock. If one of them struggles too, there is nothing behind them. Kudos to Coach Bluder and the team for covering that up so far. Next year Sharon Goodman from Cresco comes in as a pure center. Wish she were here this year.
To be specific, our weakness is offensive rebounding. Iowa is tied for 2nd in the conference in defensive rebounds per game but next to last in offensive rebounds. Is it a function of our four-out offense? There frequently is no one in the lane to rebound. Or is it just lack of desire? Ollinger is the only one who crashes the boards hard all the time like Gustafson did last year.
I don't think offensive rebounds is really an issue for Iowa. Iowa's offense is very efficient without relying on second chance points. However, preventing the opposing team from getting second chances has been an issue. Iowa still being 2nd in defensive rebounding just means that opposing teams have been shooting poorly against Iowa and there are a lot of rebounds at the defensive end to be had. Iowa isn't getting enough of them currently. Last year Gustafson got all the defensive rebounds -- out of her 12, 15 rebounds a game, she only had about a couple of them on the offensive side. Czinano needs develop into that. Wonder how she managed to get 17 rebounds at Nebraska?
A significant portion of Iowa's rebounding issues are Monika related. I'd guess she's below average athletically (lateral quickness and jumping) for Big Ten centers. She's also below average at positioning, and gets caught ball-watching too much. If you take out the Nebraska outlier, she's averaging just 4 rebounds per game. McKenna is averaging more than that in 10 fewer minutes.
For comparison, Megan averaged 13.4 per game last year, and Hannah averaged 6.7 even with Megan on the floor for most of her minutes.
The good news is that positioning, technique, and desire are all things a player can control. Monika has already showed she can make huge improvements on the offensive end. Now she needs to apply that same drive to working on her rebounding and her defense.
For comparison, Megan averaged 13.4 per game last year, and Hannah averaged 6.7 even with Megan on the floor for most of her minutes.
The good news is that positioning, technique, and desire are all things a player can control. Monika has already showed she can make huge improvements on the offensive end. Now she needs to apply that same drive to working on her rebounding and her defense.
Agreed, and that's fine. I see almost no way this team gets to an Elite 8, but kudos to them for having results that are greater than the sum of the parts. It would be something if this year's team is the one that breaks through and gets a regular season conference title. I haven't figured out how Northwestern has lost only 1 conference game (at home to Iowa by 26 points). Northwestern still has to play at Maryland, at Ohio State, at Michigan State so hopefully they lost a couple of them. Iowa still has to go to Maryland and Rutgers.
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anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba
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Though I don't know if that's her style, and I haven't seen her flexing her biceps yet
Funny you should say that. Doyle, in fact, did flex like Luka last night as she sat on the baseline after being fouled on one of her patented drives to the bucket. Of course, she made the lay-up and the FT.
Yeah, Doyle flexes all the time. She must be the muscle girl on the team. I was referring to Caitlyn Clark. Does she like to mix it up under the basket?Funny you should say that. Doyle, in fact, did flex like Luka last night as she sat on the baseline after being fouled on one of her patented drives to the bucket. Of course, she made the lay-up and the FT.
Doyle is reminding me of Logic, she just refuses to lose. Hard nosed and does a little of everything for Iowa. She has definitely stepped up her game now that Gustafson is gone! As great of player Clark is in HS she will have huge shoes to fill next year. I will give Meyer credit too, she has stepped up her game and is more consistent this year. Great job all around for the Iowa women. It would be a awesome accomplishment to get a top 4 seed in the NCAA tourney with a good chance to return to the sweet 16.
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